The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-12-20
FW0OLFOLK TO SWING.
The Trial of the Bibb County
:. Murderer Comes to a Close.
md TOM WILL HANG IN FEBRUARY.

Below will be found an account Of the
CLOSING scenes in the famous Voolfolk trial
Tom Voolfolk was charged with the murder
E3f his father, stepnother, aunt, and six other
Anembers of the family
\. MACON, Ca, December 12.-[Special 1.-The
Snorning dawned in Macon rather cold and
cloudy, but it frightened up along toward
Glne o'clock, and occasional CLEANS of sunshine
Enlightened the somber landscape.
- Inc attorneys showed that they had been
Epeqqehted by the days rest and came forward
E9s fresh and vigorous as they did a week ago
Today.
., The prisoner was not looking his best though
ne presented the same imperturbable front
chat he has since the day of his arraignment
Ihe house was speedily filled with spect ators,
as everybody felt that
THE END WAS APPROACHING.
;and an increased interest in the result was
plainly manifested. The prisoner
Sook his seat on the witness stand and in a
gain, low, but earnest voice, began his state
gent There was not a tremor in his voice as
ne began A death-like stiffness pervaded the
courtroom as the measured accents of the pris-
oner fell upon the assembled multitude The
prisoner had a small sheet of paper in his
hands, to which he frequently turned for refer
ence as he challenged and commented on the
several witnesses who have testified against
him
[. Please your honor and gentlemen of the jury
an charged with the killing of my father, my
:Qrothers, my mother my sisters and Mrs West i
say am an innocent man, and most hunby hope
you Will, and ask you to pay the closest attention
10 what have to say about this terrible calamity
r We all sat up until about O'Clock ard then we
81 retired about the same time. took wash pan
lgnd some water and bathed myself and shaved my
Sef, and then went to bed and slept Until about two
hours before day, when was awakened by a groan
fathers assistance-into the room Where head
she noise; My brother Richard quicker than
q was, and he rushed in ahead and was knocked
GOWN could not see what happened. The light
mad been blowed out. could not see him. but l
4eard him fall. knew that my life was in danger.
ed over my bed and out of the window on to the
front rorch and ran down to Green L)cketts house.
t1ne nearest negro house on the plantation. When
Il was going out of the front yard 1 heard screams
I1rom the children. called Green and called him
He.came after calling him for several times and sat
down on the steps as if he was very much
Hsturbed begged him and begged him to
me to help me to protect the family He said he was
afraid to go up then got some boys to go for the
Seighbors as quickly as could. In the meantime
gAndeTsQn James came up behind his house and ne
STas frightened nearly 10 death. He agreed to go
with me, We got up by the house when he said:
9ou got pistol?' He broke over towards Green
fockett's house l called him and called
Smith to come quickly as possible. lie said he
iSyas going for Smith. listened and then l heard
and his flmily In a little While 1 heard them 20
out the back way knew from the actions Of the
gaEd dQg from the way he was running backwards
made tremendous noise He was following them
10 he back gate, Iheard the back gate SIAM heard
After standing awhile the dog ceased to bark and
AL was still then approached the house, very
Cautiously. went into my fathers ROOM l called
him-no answer came. don remember whether
\ picked Pearl up or, not, 1 know Chat
her back on the bed and tried to find a light, or a
snatch to make light in the room, but could not
S{ted to find q match but cauld not l then fall
Ehnro In 200 thaI- vnr broat cot
Toom WHERE my sister and Mrs West slept, aud fct
house. then was greatly distressed-was very
tnueh excited. took a pan of water and about
lalf full of water and then washed my hands and
feet as well as l could. had been troubled with
@ny bowels, and ran out behind the house, and
Z do not know whether ut my hands this way or
Chat ay Showing the way went back to Gre On
Socketts house ana met MI smith there When we
Mr.. Smith says: 81 helr noise in the house" ]
Thought probably dog or something of that kind
Eame back to where he was and we then called
Green Lockett. He said he was sick Smith called
Afm and finally he came. Tom Banks came up
From the direction these parties had run. Itold him
Eo tell the negroes to get up the horses and
possible. told Smith how everything occurred; told
Ind that would go into the house and wash it off
Went to the well and drew bucket of water, but
colld not get all the blood off without soap, and
Remembered leaving the soap in my room the
Sfent in then to my room, and then washed ny
Aands and feet, where had gone into my room to
~ went back to where Mr.. Smith was, and sat
there until some of the neighbors came up told
10 break I went into the room and took quilt
And lay down on it on the porch, and | lay there
y Snd R RS cRnmss We
Dame. When she ,. came up she she
He s devil n this s9S a aw her husba ad
et greatly excited, turn toward me and grtted his
Eseth. Everybody that would come up would say
ahat he done it. They would not ask how do you
know he done it-they seemed to just believe it.
Then four men came up and told me to consider
Said stand mp. They said: Gle has got blood ON
Atis ear - 1 said blood is everywhere. / then sat
hown, and heard them mistake what said. |
Maid how could help it when blood is everywhere;
Sfis on my hands and my feet l told them was
Eery sick and ook my quilt and went into the
q They asked me to rake statement before the
Coroner jury, then to pull off my clothes and they
Eor blood but they found none. put on my clothes,
@nd they said, he is bloody, he has blood all over
asked me where the shirt was | had pulled of
Eold them it was over there On the box. They said
EsRabpco it. / went over and got it. sono
large e ' for y sai'' ff UI "S0 d 81
pulled it Off and gave it TO them. They took my
q did state to them that could not remember about
HSfng these towels but do remember now very
Hlgtincly, that did wipe my hands with them but
H Gid not remember it then. They told me TO drop
Gay drawers. They said there was blood. l said, It
IS dirt when 1 looked at it. ! remember
AQR got the blood on me- and told hem the
Rest could under my bowels trouble that rested
H6y hands on the naked flesh. They told me TO but
EE6h them up ! did so. They told me they were
Shropgh, and went back into the parlor and laid
down.
e Gentlemen, sat down, and heard good people
eAefe tell lies-good men, simply because they were
wfejudiced against me- People that had been
Ksualy in the habit of telling the truth until they
tSere preiudiced that they could not hclp telling
HIS And, gentlemen Ann James said that said,
Tall my people were dead rs hell"
"a have been in the habit Of saying bad words, but
Glider the great distress was in, l know / never
Eould have made any such remark. She lied. And
Eehtemen, do not remember riding with Bone
Davis If 1 ever did ride with him, never made
leuch remark as be stated. loved my father as
well as any man loves his parent.
: dDn Z know anything about Bone Davis eharac-
Rer as TO truthfulness only know him when meet
Nim wont say that would not believe him on
path. He may tell the truth but he certainly lied
Hhen he said made any threats against my father
ipr any ofmy family. And if / did say It l was
Either crazy or drunk.
8 All Brewer said when Twas maltingmy statement
fhSt said that heard groan and one lick and
fhdt blood spnrtedup Oh my ear. He lied. ] said
S.how could help getting blood on my ear when it
2gas flung everywhere That is the expression l